LOSING CONGRESS IS NOT ENOUGH

The depth and breadth of the Iraqi disaster caused by the mendacity, arrogance and incompetence of George W. Bush and Donald Rumsfeld may ultimately prove to be the worst foreign policy blunder in American history.  And the worst part of it is that the only "solution" may be a humiliating withdrawal of U.S. troops, an admission that Bush's Iraq policy made the world a much less safe place for all of us and a reign of chaotic terror for Iraqis that will eventually end in either an ultra militant Islamic fundamentalist state or a secular military dictatorship modeled after the regime of Saddam Hussein.

American blunders aside, Iraq, like the rest of the Middle East, is a passionate culture of revenge and retribution.  The murderous carnage to date between pro-Iranian Shiites, anti-Iranian Shiites, Saddam Sunnis and anti-Saddam Sunnis--to name but a few of the factions-- almost guarantees a generation of revenge-based violence.

Furthermore, the not-a-civil-war has driven tens of thousands of educated, wealthy and middle class Iraqis into exile, rendering the nation incapable of providing the fundamental elements of real life: education, health care, industry, business, social services, civil services and basic utilities.

Just hours ago, 80 gunmen with a convoy of 20 buses pulled up to the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Scholarships and Cultural Relations in downtown Baghdad and kidnapped about 150 staff and visitors. 

The kidnappers and their victims disappeared into the light of day in the American occupied and secured city.  The local police have been placed "under investigation." In the meantime, 150 physicians, scientists and university professors are handcuffed, hooded and will likely be tortured and murdered within the next few days.

Since the American occupation began, the official death toll thus far of educators and scientists is somewhere over 155, not counting the 150 men and women who disappeared today.

To prevent "further kidnappings of physicians, scientists and professors" the Iraqi government has shut down the nation's university system indefinitely.

Clearly, the Iraqi "government" is either grossly incompetent or completely corrupt or possibly both.  And one can only imagine that the American high command is exclusively focused on minimizing the loss of American lives and gives not a hoot for the safety and security of the Iraqi people.  We destroyed their infrastructure and their society and obviously thrown them to the wolves.

The United States has two clear missions at this point in time: the first is to quickly develop and implement a plan that focuses on delivering safety and security to the Iraqi people regardless of who we might have to talk to, negotiate with and  support.  And that includes Iran, Syria, the key clerics and Saddam himself if necessary.  Our goal must be resolution and security, not retribution or saving face.

Secondly, Bush, Rumsfeld and Cheney must be held accountable for international piracy, for irresponsibly and illegally destroying a sovereign nation and for the direct and indirect slaughter of countless innocent lives.  Losing control of Congress falls far short of the legal and moral demands of justice and international law.  The Democrats risk complete and utter political failure if they refuse to accept that presidential impeachment and a painful and honorable response to the rightful demands of international law and accountability are an absolute necessity.

Bush was clear about his intentions and a majority of Americans endorsed them in 2004.  His grotesque and criminal strategy was to create a battlefield in Iraq that would divert Al Qaeda's resources and keep them away from American soil.  This may have been the most criminal act of global racism and genocide ever perpetrated.  He knew Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11, but he also knew the nation would be helpless against American force.  To "prevent" another 9/11 Bush threw the raw meat of as many as half a million Iraqi lives to Al Qaeda and other Islamic fundamentalist hyenas.  As a result Al Qaeda is now well fed, well nourished and supported by millions more Muslims than before or even during the year following 9/11.

What kind of nation are we if we consider impeachment for presidents who cover up campaign malfeasance and acts of marital infidelity but not for international crimes against humanity?